‘Glee’ Season 5: Cory Monteith’s Death “Directly” Written Into Third Episode, Will Shoot PSAs

While we had known that 'Glee''s upcoming fifth season would address actor Cory Monteith's death and Finn's exit from the series by its third episode, we're now learning that the character's death may not mirror Monteith's real-life overdose. That said, the series will shoot several drug-related public service announcements for the episode, and donate proceeds from the music to a charity for Cory Monteith.

News of the long-running FOX musical dramedy's plans came from network president Kevin Reilly at the ongoing TCA press tour, wherein Reilly revealed that 'Glee''s Finn tribute episode will “deal directly with the drug abuse” that killed star Cory Monteith. However, Reilly didn't directly answer if the character's death would mirror Monteith's but rather that the cast would shoot several awareness spots to identify drug abuse behavior.

“When you see some people struggle with addiction, they are easily put in a category. ‘He was dark, she was always a partier,’” Reilly told reporters at the TCA press Tour. “Cory was big open life force. He was not a problem, he looked straight as an arrow. He was open about his addiction in the past, just not as open about it in the presence. Everybody was shocked, but this was an accident. It happened to someone struggling with addiction.”

Additionally, proceeds from the episode will go toward a new charity created in Monteith's honor, the details of which were not immediately available. Series creator Ryan Murphy too addressed the plans for the tribute episode, saying to The Hollywood Reporter:

The right thing to do for the show, at least at this point, is to have that character pass. When we do the tribute episode to that character, we'll have to do it in a way where the castmembers will not have to re-create feelings of grief that they’ve had [following Monteith's death] -- but do it in an upbeat way. If we can do this responsibly and help young people through these feelings, that’s the best that we can hope for.

More details of 'Glee' season 5 plan beyond Cory Monteith will become available in the coming weeks, but what say you? Are you relieved to hear how the show will address Monteith's death, or would you prefer to keep the story separate from real-life events?